Walcott making good progress - Wenger

Premier League / 19 July 2014, 2:57pm

AFP

FILE - JANUARY 06, 2013: England and Arsenal forward Theo Walcott has been ruled out for six months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury which would see him miss out on the 2014 World Cup. LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 04: (EDITORS NOTE: Retransmission of image #460558025 with an alternate crop) Theo Walcott of Arsenal lies injured on the pitch during the Budweiser FA Cup third round match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on January 4, 2014 in London, England. The injury sustained has led England and Arsenal forward Walcott to be ruled out for six months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury which will see him miss out on the 2014 World Cup.(Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

England winger Theo Walcott is expected back in training in August as he steps up his recovery from knee surgery, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

Walcott has been sidelined since January after suffering knee ligament damage in an FA Cup victory against Tottenham.

The injury required an operation, ruling Walcott out of Arsenal's successful FA Cup run, which finally ended the club's long trophy drought, and also forcing him to miss the World Cup.

But the 25-year-old, who recently became a father for the first time, is back in light training as Arsenal begin their pre-season preparations and Gunners boss Wenger is hopeful the winger will be back in action soon after the start of the new Premier League season next month.

“He's progressing very well,” Wenger told Arsenal's website.

“He's worked very hard during the summer and we expect him to be back in full training at the end of August.

Wenger also suggested Walcott would be fast-tracked back into the team as soon as he has proved his fitness.

“Once he's back in full training it can be very quick. He has a good basis, which is what he's working on now,” Wenger added.– AFP